Dental napkin-holder.



a No. 718,772. PATBNTBD JAN. 20, 1903.

H. A. KING.

DENTAL NAPKIN HOLDER.

APPLICATION FILED 001. 25, 1902.

H0 MODEL.

UNITED STATES AT ENT OFFICE.

HENRY ARTHUR KING, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

DENTAL NAPKlN-HOLDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 718,772, datedJanuary 20, 1903.

Application filed October 25, 1902. Serial No. 128,806. (No model.)

T0 at whom it may concern: v

Be it known that I, HENRY ARTHUR KING, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the borough of Manhattan and State of New York, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Dental Napkin-Holders, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in dental tongue or napkin holders, and has for its object to so construct the same that it will automatically lock and hold the napkin in the mouth of the patient, and it may be easily and cheaply manufactured.

In the drawings forming a part of this specification, and in which like symbols of reference represent corresponding parts in the several views, Figure 1 is a side view of the device in its operative position. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the same. Fig. 3 is a side view of a modification, and Fig. 4 a bottom plan of the same.

The device is composed of sections 1 and 2, having a hinged connection at 3. The upper section 1 has a ratchet 4 formed on its rear part, and working in the same is a stirruplike pawl5, the same having a hinged connection at 6 to the lower member 2 and having also a spring 7, connected by a cross-bar 8 to the stirrup 5. The tendency of the spring 7 is to normally draw the stirrup 5 toward the upper member and make it ride up the ratchet 4, and thus lock the members with relation to each other, the detent 9 of the stirrup taking into the teeth on the ratchet. The stirrup 5 has a milled or roughened head 10 for the purpose of operating the same.

11 is a button or disk on the lower member, to be placed under the chin of the patient, and 12 is a spoon-shaped end on the upper member, adapted toengage and hold the napkin in the mouth of the patient.

In the modification the ratchet is formed on the lower member, and the stirrup is hinged at 13 to the upper part and has a detent 14 to work in the ratchet, said detent being held against the ratchet by a spring 15, the spring lying in a groove or guide 16, formed in the back of the detent and having a knob 17 to operate the same.

The operation is as follows: By simply throwing the detent out of engagement with the ratchet the device may be opened, and when placed in the mouth of the patient the parts will automatically close, the detent riding upon the ratchet and locking the parts with relation-to each other.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a dental appliance, the combination with the hinged arms composing the same, of means for operating and locking the arms with relation to each other, and a spring to hold the locking means normally in engagement.

2. A dental appliance, formed of hinged arms, one of said arms having a disk and the other a spoon-shaped end, a pawl and ratchet for locking said members, and a spring to hold the pawl in engagement with the ratchet.

3. In a dental napkin-holder, the combination with the hinged members composing the same, of a stirrup and ratchet adapted to lock the members with relation to each other, and a spring to normally hold the stirrup and ratchet in engagement.

In testimony whereof I afliic my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HENRY ARTHUR KING.

Witnesses:

GEORGE H. HALLETT, LOUIS I-LZOOHER. 

